INTRODUCTION

The PSYCHO-RESCUE Project is an action-research project promoted and funded by the EU Leonardo da Vinci Programme.
In general, the objectives of PSYCHO-RESCUE are focused on the definition and development of vocational training and educational tools which could be relevant to Community-based Mental Health care workers (CMH workers).
To achieve this objective, we took into account two main issues: on one hand the transferability of different educational and vocational training systems existing in the countries involved with the project, and on the other hand the applicability of their results and outcomes to different mental health systems and labour market needs.
These objectives have been pursued by carrying out true collaboration. This involved systematic comparison of workers, stakeholders and key players involved in the organisation and management of psychiatric residential care facilities and community services within the European Union, with explicit reference to the partner countries participating in the Project. We considered and analysed the legislative frameworks, the mental health policies, the organisation of services, as well as the extent of innovative care programs which look at community-based methods of care and treatment which overcome the “asylum” approach
This allowed us to realize a consistent and homogeneous product which is capable of considering both the different professional profiles, and the various national and/or local organisational models.
The framework of PSYCHO-RESCUE is inspired by the latest concepts of community-based approaches which are founded on principles universally acknowledged and summarized as follows:

• Environment: services which are near to the natural places where service users live, instead of places which are bound to the provider’s setting.

• Target: not only symptoms and disabilities, but the valorization and empowerment of the individual, family and community resources too.

• Methodology: focus on assessment of needs and personal life goals; minimizing “institutionalization” (in all its shapes); favoring models of intervention that are based on building a support network around an individual and are able to support the integration of people in the community.

Our decision to limit our field of study and application to community-based services was based on two considerations. Firstly, we were aware that the inclusion of a wide range of mental health services wouldn’t allow us to develop a consistent and suitable product. Secondly, our choice was strongly influenced by the current policies on mental health which indicate that a community based approach is the more suitable (in terms of effectiveness and costs/benefits balance) for the demands and needs of the individual and of modern society.